Chapter 21 - The Containment Plan
The Carter Containment file contained six steps.
Discredit Megan.
Challenge the authenticity of Nora’s documents.
Blame Jack for all historical transactions.
Destroy obsolete paper records.
Move remaining overseas funds.
Resign after the annual hospital audit.
Marcus had completed the first four.
The fifth changed everything.
An offshore account in Switzerland still held more than $2.7 million connected to the scheme.
Investigators froze it before Marcus could move the money.
The recovery brought the total amount linked to the wider fraud network above six million dollars.
But the final item worried Gerald.
Resign after the annual hospital audit.
The audit began in two days.
Marcus had already purchased a one-way international ticket.
Destination Zurich.
His attorney insisted the trip was business-related.
Prosecutors disagreed.
They requested travel restrictions.
Marcus responded by filing a motion accusing the government of relying on documents planted by Megan.
The hearing was scheduled for Friday.
On Thursday night, Jack called Megan through the prison communication system.
She almost declined.
Then she accepted.
His face appeared on the screen.
“I saw the news.”
Megan said nothing.
“He’s doing to you what he taught me to do.”
“No, Jack.”
Her voice was calm.
“You chose to do it.”
He looked away.
“You’re right.”
It was the first time she had heard him correct himself without adding an excuse.
“I can prove the voice in Lauren’s recording is Marcus.”
“Investigators already can.”
“There’s more.”
Jack explained that Marcus had maintained a second phone.
Jack had once delivered it to a private storage locker when Marcus feared an internal audit.
“Where?”
“DFW Airport.”
Megan stared at him.
Jack gave a bitter laugh.
“Of course it’s the airport.”
A locker number followed.
Then Jack said something Megan never expected.
“Don’t give me anything for this.”
“No reduced sentence?”
“No.”
“No favors with the children?”
May you like
Jack shook his head.
“I’ve spent enough years turning everything into a transaction.”
